You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

ok, so every time I fire up my e36 there is a light across the bottom of the instrument panel. I have attached a file that shows more or less what it is I see on my dash.

so - what does this mean? I read the owner's manual, and all it says is that that means I have to take my car into the BMW dealership. something tells me that will cost me alot of unnecessary money. so, I figured since all of you also have e36's - you may have more experience.

so, what is my best course of action? who knows more about this "inspection" light?

yes, that's the inspection light.. not oil change light.
you can either take it into the dealership and have them reset it.
you can inspect it yourself and reset it yourself with a piece of wire.
or you can just reset it and go on driving as usual.

after 'x' amount of kilometers the green bars slowly disappear and the red ones appear, with either the OIL or INSPECTION indicator. The harder you drive, the quicker those lights will light up. Basically they're just reminders to either change your oil or for you to go do a service inspection at the dealer. It's not like the check engine light which means something is messed up. I usually reset mine with a paperclip.

Driving with the red bars on won't damage the car at all, although appearently your car will consume a little more fuel.

__________________"Driving is like a narcotic, an addiction that can take over lives. It ruins people, breaks families apart, and even kills. Itís habit that needs to be fueled. Time, money, rationality, sweat, knuckle skin, and anyone who disapproves are of little importance to a driver, and are often overlooked. Hi, Iím Nelson, and Iím a drivaholic."

Inspections are nice to do if you want to keep up your dealer maintenence records. I've never had one done, I just do them myself and save myself the money. I have no intention of selling my car at any point, so those records won't benefit anyone.

__________________"Driving is like a narcotic, an addiction that can take over lives. It ruins people, breaks families apart, and even kills. Itís habit that needs to be fueled. Time, money, rationality, sweat, knuckle skin, and anyone who disapproves are of little importance to a driver, and are often overlooked. Hi, Iím Nelson, and Iím a drivaholic."

and as far as i know, the last oil change could have been done a month ago or 5 years ago. i didn't get any service records with the car, and i just got the car about a month ago. so i figure i'll do one anyways, to be sure. my next problem is - what kind of oil should i use? i have no clue what the previous owner was using.

Justin, i've been trying to short pin 7 for 11 seconds when the car is on (but not started) like its in the position where the CEL already comes on. What am i doing wrong

__________________
I run a canadian led kit & hid kit company, if you have any questions about led headlights or hid kits in canada or would like to check out our products please contact me here: http://absolutehid.ca2002 TiAg M3 6mt deoranged, dechromed, led tails, ZHP knob, UUC SS v3, GROM, OEM 220M 19's, Michelin Supersports
2006 YZF-R6, bunch of go-fast stuff

I usually just toss a paper clip from pin 7 to 19, turn the ignition to the on position for a bit, then turn it off, remove the clip and turn the ignition back on and everything is clear.

__________________"Driving is like a narcotic, an addiction that can take over lives. It ruins people, breaks families apart, and even kills. Itís habit that needs to be fueled. Time, money, rationality, sweat, knuckle skin, and anyone who disapproves are of little importance to a driver, and are often overlooked. Hi, Iím Nelson, and Iím a drivaholic."

Will this reset the CEL? i think im confused. Is it true that pin 7 & 15 shorted out will reset SRS light?

please help

__________________
I run a canadian led kit & hid kit company, if you have any questions about led headlights or hid kits in canada or would like to check out our products please contact me here: http://absolutehid.ca2002 TiAg M3 6mt deoranged, dechromed, led tails, ZHP knob, UUC SS v3, GROM, OEM 220M 19's, Michelin Supersports
2006 YZF-R6, bunch of go-fast stuff

I can suggest taking it to Charlie(bimmersport) He will do your oil change for a fair price. And he has the reset tool. If you want to do it yourself, just listen to thinair's post and cross the two pins, have someone turn the key to the on, not start position, and wait about 7 secs. The green bars should appear. Whenever buying a new car, I would change all the fluids, including oil, coolant, tranny, and I would check out the brake fluid.